The Lake Chapala Chapter of Democrats Abroad is geared up to host the 2015 Annual General Meeting of Democrats Abroad Mexico, wrapped into a series of events scheduled for this weekend.
Delegates from around Mexico began arriving this week to take part in electing new officers, develop countrywide campaign strategies and engage in convivial team building. The gathering marks the kick-off of the organization’s political activities leading up to the 2016 U.S. general elections.
The event program begins on Friday, April 17, with a welcome reception hosted by Howard Feldstein and Joan Ward at which Democrats Abroad Lake Chapala members will rekindle friendships with delegates representing fellow chapters in Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende and other localities. Guests will also be introduced to former Oklahoma congressional candidate Tom Guild, visiting here to share insights on waging battle for Democratic contenders in heavily Republican states.
Democrats Abroad Mexico Chair Jody Quinnell will preside at the members’ assembly to be held Saturday, 10 a.m. to mid-afternoon at Chapala’s Hotel Montecarlo, overseeing voting for board officers, delegate reports and strategic planning sessions. Quinnell will get a pat on the back for her candidacy as vice-chair of the world organization Democratic Party Committee Abroad during its annual general meeting April 30-May 3 in the Dominican Republic.
Other events lined up for the Chapala confab continue Saturday at 7 p.m., with “Hard Travelin’ with Woody,” a musical tribute to folk singer Woody Guthrie featuring acclaimed singer and actor Randy Noojin. The sing-along show will be held at Club Exotica, located behind El Jardin Restaurant at the Ajijic pla
za, in a setting reminiscent of a 1930’s union hall in an Oklahoma mining town. Tickets priced at 200 pesos per person are on sale at Yoly’s Unisex Salon, Plaza Bugambilias, and Diane Pearl Colecciones, Colon 1 at Calle Ocampo.
The program closes with a screening of “Iron Jawed Angels,” a historical drama tracing the early days of of the Woman’s Suffrage movement starring Hilary Swank, Frances O’Connor, Julia Ormand and Anjelica Huston, playing at Cinemas del Lago, Plaza Bugambilias, 1:30 p.m. Immediately afterwards, Kelly Hayes-Raitt will offer a brief talk complementing the film’s subject matter.
Independent from the agenda, a cocktail reception fund-raiser for Guild’s 2016 campaign chest is also planned for Sunday afternoon. For details contact Paul Crist, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
In addition to offering expats a real voice in the Democratic Party and acting as a 51st state to send delegates to the Democratic National Convention, Democrats Abroad serves U.S. citizens in over 160 countries worldwide, liaising with members of congress on behalf of Americans living abroad and assisting in voter registration and absentee ballot applications regardless of party affiliation.